Business

Pueblo Community College Fremont Campus gets new look

Phase 1 of Capital Fund Project to be celebrated Nov. 7

A rendition of the new look at Fremont Campus of Pueblo Community College. (Charlotte Burrous / Daily Record)

A group of investors and individuals got a sneak peak Friday at the completion of Phase 1 of the Capital Fund Project on the Fremont Campus of Pueblo Community College.

To celebrate the completion, a ribbon cutting ceremony will be offered at noon Nov. 7 at 51320 W. U.S. 50.

"Over the summer, we dodged many things in the hallways and different rooms," said Fremont Campus Dean Dr. Lana Carter. "We renovated the testing area of the Resource Center and the classrooms. We were able to re-size and re-purpose some rooms, switched some others and provide collapsible walls that are soundproof. Likewise, we put in a testing center ... quiet rooms and individual study rooms (in the learning center). Now we have an art room where the computer rooms used to be. Classrooms (also) were restructured."

Research shows that students need specific things to be competitive in today's world. They learn and work in teams much more than they once did. They are also engaged in numerous activities and PCC Fremont Campus students want to experience some of the things they would if they were at the University of Colorado at Boulder or Colorado State University at Pueblo, Carter said.

However, there is still work to be done.

During the event, Advisory Committee member John Merriam talked about the history of the college, from its start at the Abbey to its current status.

"After the campus was built and after we settled into it, classes began to run. We always invariably find additional things we would like to have and programs we would like to add to the curriculum, (as well as provide) needs and space," he said. "A plan was developed about six or seven years ago to add to this campus substantially at a rate of about $2.5 million. It started a growth, but the timing was not right in that the economic recession hit. We also saw a little bit of decrease in student enrollment and we had a change in the administration at PCC."

When the committee re-evaluated where they were and where they were going, the committee conducted an efficiency study and found what they didn't need was more, but instead the need to utilize the space they had to make it more efficient. For example, the classrooms were built for 30 students; however, the size of classes averaged about 15 students in any one class.

"The students held out for one thing," Merriam said. "They felt the one aspect of the building plan that was no longer going to be part of our Phase 1 and 2 plan included a commons area.

So Merriam, Marvin Bradley and Myron "Smitty" Smith agreed to be a core of the Capital Fund Committee.

"There was still some money left over from the first fundraising that was not used in the renovation for Phase 1," Merriam said. "There had been money set aside by the college and there had been money set aside by the students --- about $250,000 over a four year period. When it was all said and done, the budget was about $100,000 short."

In June, Merriam, Bradley and Smitty met with Cañon City Councilwoman Pat Freda, Carter and Diana Porter, of PCC, to talk about raising money. At the beginning of the meeting, Advisory and foundation member Walter Schepp said he and his wife, Gloria, had decided to put $100,000 up-front so the approval process could get started along with the architectural design and bidding to build the commons area.

"(We continued to collect) funds to alleviate all the responsibly for the $100,000 to the Schepp family," Merriam said.

The committee also continues to request matching grants from such foundations as El Pomar and Boettcher, along with residents to help with matching funds, grants and support for the last phase, which has been approved by all the bodies needed.

"That's where we have been," Merriam said. "That's where we are going. I think it's a wise decision, based on this structure and the needs of the people who work and learn in this structure and we're very supportive of that."

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